The Seminole Tribe of Florida will be getting funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help with housing and constriction during the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. HUD Sec. Ben Carson announced that the Seminole Tribe of Florida will be getting $900,000. The funds are part of $100 million to tribes across the nation through HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant Imminent Threat program (ICDBG-CARES). This is the only grant going to a tribe in Florida.
“This funding helps address problems that pose an imminent threat to public health or safety of Tribal residents and will be used to help Tribes prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19,” HUD noted on Monday.
“The Trump administration is committed to helping families throughout Indian Country to access essential resources during the coronavirus outbreak,” said Secretary Carson.
“This $100 million investment will go a long way to help Native Americans persevere during this unprecedented time,” said U.S. HUD Asst. Sec. for Public and Indian Housing R. Hunter Kurtz.
The funds are part of the $2.3 trillion CARES Act approved by Congress and the White House at the end of March. The funds can be used to build new rental housing, water infrastructure, renovate facilities for COVID-19 testing and for emergency supplies.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.